Winter got here to chew us with a vengeance final week. The time below the blankets with scorching water bottle at my toes and one other positioned on my center again created time for reflection. Here we’re within the third quarter of the yr.
After so many a long time within the company world, I’m programmed to evaluate the primary six months of 2023 versus my plan and intentions. As effectively as map the remainder of the yr.
Corporate life is extra steady in comparison with being self-employed. Although I had a stint of operating my very own coaching and consulting enterprise in Zambia for 4 years, it’s totally different in Zimbabwe.
When I launched into writing a weekly column within the impartial newspaper, The Post, I had suggestions in addition to enterprise. The column was additionally a launch pad for radio and tv in addition to talking engagements. I wrote for 5 years even throughout a four-month hospital stint.
Fast-forward to returning to Zimbabwe from Zambia and spending 4 years in hospitality as soon as once more, Covid arrived and after that I spent two years in Chobe, Botswana. Once once more for hospitality.
For 20 years, my work roles required intensive journey and 10 years in courier and logistics overlaying Central Africa meant that there have been by no means many free weekends.
Keep ReadingThe want to return house once more and, this time, take it slower was a loud calling and so right here I’m again in Harare having weekends at house. Reading, taking programs, knitting, enjoying scrabble, going to Pilates and meditation circles in addition to assembly pals has been a dream come true.
On the work entrance — I nonetheless should work, simply not on a regular basis!
Many of us have by no means made sufficient cash to retire. My sport plan was to make use of social media, LinkedIn, asa marketing instrument to safe coaching and consulting enterprise. After attending programs on-line and face-to-face trainings and listening to infinite YouTube movies, my efforts yielded zero outcomes.
Networking and contacting those that I do know has been efficient. Word of mouth referrals as effectively have yielded outcomes. I’ve realised that for me and for what I’m doing now the nice old school manner works in Zimbabwe.
Somehow, it has at all times been simpler to market and promote for a company firm than for myself. I detest imposing on others. That was why social media appealed because it was not direct contact.
That obtained me pondering that connecting occurs when one meets bodily or telephonically. Creating rapport and customary floor is then primarily based on what the competencies are of the particular person and the wants of the enterprise. Until one has the precise expertise of the coaching, it’s nonetheless troublesome to determine whether or not it’s price or not. This is fascinating for me to have a look at how I am going about bringing coaching enterprise in.
For now, I shall undergo my assortment of enterprise playing cards and create a pile of these to greet and advise what I’m doing. I had accomplished a mail out in February 2023 to my Zimbabwean contacts. Mining deeper into contacts in Zambia and Botswana the place I’ve lived and labored will probably be an motion step.
Also within the brief time again in Harare I’ve met new individuals whom I shall re have interaction with. The hospitality business is my forte nevertheless gross sales and marketing and crew transformation applies to all enterprise. In Zambia, the number of corporations was throughout all industries.
Designing adverts for refresher programs in buyer expertise mapping, gross sales and marketing, crew constructing, battle administration, constructing profitable groups, enterprise etiquette, is one other plan. One-on-one teaching for profession growth has been requested a couple of instances, so I shall pursue that too.
There are additionally short-term consultancies which I shall proceed to use for that catch my consideration.
The goal of that is for the reader to observe my thought course of and maybe it guides them to do the identical for their very own enterprise or facet hustle.
On that word, time for me to get cracking and do ship me an e-mail simply to say that you’ve got learn this text which is the fourteenth one. I might love interplay and dialogue.
White is a born and bred Zimbabwean. A profession spanning banking, hospitality and courier/logistics. She wrote a column in The Post newspaper in Zambia for 5 years and revealed a guide, Conversations with Carol, in addition to internet hosting a TV programme that includes entrepreneurs and small companies. Passionate about crew transformation, buyer expertise mapping, gross sales and marketing and management which mixes will increase in profitability and efficiency, she connects the dots. — [email protected].
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https://www.newsday.co.zw/theindependent/amp/opinion/article/200014251/tea-talk-networking-vs-social-media-marketing
